Chevrolet Rallye Wheel & Hubcap Guide
GM Rallye Wheel History
With GM’s introduction of a disc brake option for the first time in 1967, there was concern about heat buildup around the brakes with traditional solid face steel wheels and hub caps. Something that was not a concern previously with standard drum brakes. The solution was the five hole/slot steel Rallye wheel design. But Chevrolet used this new wheel to its advantage to emphasize its performance application. With stainless steel beauty rings playing off the Argent silver painted centers and unique rally hubcap designs, then as now they give a distinguishable vintage performance vibe for any vehicle application, not just Chevy cars.
For its first year Chevy offered four different Rallye wheel sizes:
- 14x5-inch: 1967 Chevy II, Chevelle w/o Wide Oval tires and/or big block engines, non-SS, and non-Wide Oval Camaros.
- 14x6-inch: 1967 Camaro and Chevelle SS and those with Wide Oval tires.
- 15x5-inch: 1967 Impala w/o Wide Oval tires.
- 15x6-inch: 1967 Impala with Wide Oval tires and station wagons, Camaro Z28, and Corvette.
Enriching the Rallye wheel history throughout its production, Chevy manufactured quite a few variations. These variants mostly have to do with offsets and widths, but there was more. Everything from center cap size to drop centers and other unique touches offer up the myriad subtleties sprinkled around Chevy’s Rallye wheel production over the years.
The most common 15-inch Rallye wheel was introduced in 1968 and is the 15x7version. This wheel continued production into the late-1970s. Corvettes were made with the 15x8 wheel starting in 1969-up. Also note that the 15x7-inch four-clip beauty rings also fit all 15x6-inch wheels.
As an aside, the Rallye wheel was also available from Buick for the 1967 Buick GS 340, and 1968/1969 GS 350. The wheel was first used for Gran Sports with the 340ci engine option. Unique caps distinguish it from its Chevy counterparts, but it is a true five-hole Rallye wheel, nonetheless. The new GS 350 replaced this model in 1968 and continued offering the Rallye wheel through 1969.
What’s great about Speedway Motors’ Rallye wheel offerings is that they are available for a wide variety of classic vehicles way beyond the traditional 4.75-inch GM bolt circles. Some were not even available in the day, specifically with expanded bolt circles and larger diameters up to 20-inch diameters. For Mopar and Ford applications there is a 4.5-inch bolt circle available, and for trucks a 5-on-5-inch and 6-on-5.5-inch bolt pattern. Also, the truck Rallye wheels come with either the classic silver paint or chrome plating, your choice, same price. But if you’ve already found a set and are curious about exactly what you have, Speedway Motors provides a breakdown of the codes stamped onto the rim of factory Rallye wheels below.
How to Read GM Rally Wheel Codes
Most often the code is found inside the wheel, next to or around the hole for the tire valve stem. The stampings run in this sequence: K1Y M DD AA
Codes indicate:
- K = Kelsey-Hayes
- 1 = Romulus, MI wheel plant
- Y = Calendar year
- M = Month
- DD = Day
- AA = Application code
Wheel Example #1: K19 5 4 YH
This is a 1969 Z28 wheel built by Kelsey-Hayes for Chevrolet on May 4, 1969.
Wheel Example #2: AZ K 1 9 1 24
- AZ = 15x8 Wheel
- K = Bead Type
- 1 = Mfg. Plant
Date codes:
- 9 = Year
- 1 = Month
- 24 = Day
Factory Codes for Chevy Rally Wheels
Below is a complete listing of all the known Rallye wheel application codes with wheel diameter and width, backspacing and original application info:
Specific distinctions separate the first year of production. All Rallye wheels made in 1967 have big code stampings, no date code, a differently shaped center, and slightly larger holes in the center.
Visually, there are few other differences from their inception until they were dropped from the Corvette line in 1982. Several new, different five-spoke style Chevy Rallye wheels began appearing in 1970.
Chevrolet Hub Caps | Dog Dish Hubcaps, Police Hubcaps, and Spinners
The DG code wheels from 1967 have holes about 1/2-inch wider than 1968-up wheels. This may have partly been attributed to the smaller center cap. They also featured a flatter cap hiding the wheel studs and nuts with “Chevrolet Motor Division Disc Brakes” around the flange. Being available as well on Chevy’s big-block Impala muscle cars, these Rally wheels were distinguished by the finned “Top Hat” or “Derby” center cap design, which became the common cap application for all Rallye wheels beginning the following year.
Police Car “Dog Dish” Hubcaps
The 1967 15x6-inch versions have a slightly smaller center cap. From 1968-up, the Derby style cap remained the standard for the duration of Rallye production, so they’re interchangeable. The “dog dish” flat police car hubcaps were also available on Rallye wheels beginning in 1967. The police pursuit wheels did not have corresponding trim rings and were painted black on factory Impala police sedans.
GM Spinner Caps
And besides the early Disc Brake hubcaps, plain Derby caps and plain police caps (#9101973), there is a custom Spinner cap with a simulated three-prong chrome spinner/knockoff (#9101971). And the traditional GM rally wheel hubcaps are available with and without Bow Tie and Chevrolet Motor Division (#9101970) identification.
Not sure about what wheel size works best for your application? Check out our wheel fitment tool to take wheel measurements or our digital Wheel Finder that covers bolt circles, sizes, offsets and more. Look at what we have for your tire and wheel needs for your classic or new project, as well as cleaning and care solutions, too.
